Leisure Island Adventures

Through tree branches, the blue sky and lagoon stretch to the distant Heads. The Long Table, at KKB (Kilzer’s Kitchen) is like being in a Tree House, surrounded by glass walls, from where we watched the sunset. Birds abound and Craig spotted the colourful Knysna Loerie. The kitchen, choreographed chaos, entertains, and produces wholesome food from the limited, but intriguing menu options.

A sunny day found us at the Wild Oats Community Farmers Market. While there are a few strange types around (the toadstool, fairy chap seemed to shimmer under his tree), it’s a well organized market where its possible to get a good coffee and great quality fresh produce. Polly met new friends, and decided the busker wasn’t that bad that she needed to bark.

A fair bit of blood from my paddle with Craig. The white carpet and sheets the biggest bother.

The canvas confronts me. Already, my mind has etched a picture into its fabric. How it emerges, however is still debatable? There is a repetition of what I have done before. Smudged by frustration to do better. To go beyond what has become the norm. For now. I have taken those first tentative steps, that could lead to the predictable. Or they could. Move to something more exciting.

‘Quays’, painted on one of the new heavy canvases that readily accepted the stronger impasto paint technique I used for movement of the water. Lafranc, Chrome Yellow medium the magic ingredient. A colour much favored by Van Gogh and increasingly difficult to find. For the darker parts of the water Monaco Madder (Ferrario 41), a deep purple colour from my magic paint box. Quinacridone Magenta and Indian Yellow (Windsor and Newton Artists Oil). A grey of Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue (Utrecht Artist Oils). The paler parts of the water used Napels Yellow Light (Maimeri) with spots of Rose Madder (Daler-Rowney).

I contemplated using blue as a key colour in the water to create a different dimension to the painting, but ended up staying with the yellow pallet. The high transparency factor in many of the paints, creates interesting colour movement under variable light conditions.

At the apartment, they carefully cut the holes for the new down lighters. All the wrong size. The framework for the wooden floor is done. The last of the plastering work has been done and they have done the outside finishing work on the patio section.

There is a high probability that the building will not be finished on schedule. However, the patio is useable and the sundowners seem to becoming more frequent. The number of wine bottles still exceeding those of water, which is unlikely to ever change.

Thanks Mary. I’m trying to get a bit better at recording the process. Both as a record for clients who want to know more about what was used in the painting and for personal interest in my development. Not knowing what I’m doing, does allow for all sorts of innovation!